Writer’s note: Most of the Twitter handles are invented. And if the reverse chronology is a problem, you may prefer to start this short story at the beginning, but I recommend starting here: LandingPartyONE Displeased we did not demolish Twitter … . . . → Read More: mark a rayner: Twitterpocalypse

We like to think that people who work at hospitals do everything they can to save patients – and they do. The problem is that humans make mistakes. In fact, mistakes are so common in hospitals that a simple checklist can increase the care a patient receives. Robots, and computers, on the other hand easily […]

The idea of having to be responsible 24/7 for the life of another is, frankly, quite repulsive. I’m not sure as to the reasons why our society has a fetish for raising children, but it needs to stop. There are too many of us human types on the planet anyways.

I watched an hour long documentary on robots on CBC. It is amazing how advanced robots are becoming. Then I read a story where a robot killed an autoworker at Volkswagen plant in Germany. Although this was considered a human error but imagine if humans are able to produce robots who can think and have . . . → Read More: LeDaro: Robot kills autoworker at Volkswagen plant in Germany

Something you probably didn’t know about the technological singularity: all the clowns die first. Alltop will have to choose a side when the time comes. Painting by Mike Wellins. Interesting stuff: he takes old landscapes and stuff and then adds SF tropes to them. More here. h/t

I have a longer read in the newest issue of Briarpatch Magazine, which is dedicated to the world of work. If you don’t know Briarpatch, be sure to check out the other articles in this issue and consider subscribing; this is one of Canada’s oldest independent left publications and definitely worth supporting. My piece has . . . → Read More: Political Eh-conomy: Robots, migration and the future of work (Briarpatch Magazine)

I’ll treasure my special snowflake status as a special needs teacher until the teaching profession succumbs to the efficient robo-teachers of the future. :> I’m guessing that behavioural robot teachers will air-deploy Valium and whatever else is required to maintain the learning environment.

Eighty years ago, Keynes famously predicted that within a century people would need to work no more than three hours per day. High living standards aided by technological breakthroughs would give human beings satisfying, minimal work and plentiful leisure, while robots and machines took over menial and repetitive labour. Less than twenty years before Keynes’ . . . → Read More: Political Eh-conomy: Questions for robots

His or her name is Casper. Casper is really an “it.” Casper is also the future we need to start talking about – one where humans get replaced by machines. It’s no longer a matter of science fiction. It’s now. … Continue reading →

Eucrecia was pretty exciting about her transformation into a Happy Ending Pleasure Bot, but the nice men at Zina-Works 3000 were having problems with the fittings. It was delicate work. The cavity extruder was just barely powerful enough to fit … Continue reading →

Seriously. Robots need love too! If we’re going to survive the coming Toaster Uprising, then we have to love our robots. We have to instill them with love. It’s really what Ray Kurtzweil is talking about in The Singularity Is … Continue reading →

Oh, you silly humans and your fascination with robots! And I don’t mean the kind of useful robots that actually exist, like the ones in factories. I assume that by “robot”, you’re interested in the sentient “danger Will Robinson, danger!” … Continue reading →

Time Robot would be a great name for a band. It would also be a horribly misleading title for a French film based on this premise. (Though it would be fun to hear Arnold Schwarzenegger try to say “ennui” and … Continue reading →

Right now, the only time we talk to our machines is when they don’t work right, we yell at them, or to ask them for directions. (GPS, Siri, etc.) However, when our machines become as intelligent and then smarter than … Continue reading →

Despite his bulbous legs and intimidating appearance, customers liked Robby’s warmth and genuine desire to make them happy. (He was programmed that way, but still.) The only down side? Robby’s occasional malfunctions ended up in a lot of foot amputations … Continue reading →

The CPC robot HQ has been FOUND! Here! The evil metal minions tried to escape detection but much arm-flailing and the repeated chant “DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!” made it rather easy for Trashy’s World investigators to track down. Film at 11. Trashy, Ottawa, Ontario

It’s about time the Board moved to do something about the negative image and messages that Christmas imparts! Way to go Androgynous, Holiday-Neutral Robot! Long may you, uh, live… Thanks to the O-dot for breaking this story… ______________________________________________________________________________________________ So a UBC study has found that we atheists are as distrusted as, um, rapists (?) The . . . → Read More: Trashy’s World: Friday miscellany – robots, OC Transpo and the Leafs!

from the 2037 Hammacher Schlemmer Glaven catalog This hat recalls the iconic headgear worn by the Cognition Brigade during the Second Robotic War. First developed for long distance thought projection, hats of this design were worn by countless Though Soldiers during the war, preferred for its ability to combat the medulla-inhibiting freeze rays of the […] . . . → Read More: The Skwib: The Cybernetic Thought Projection Hat